Notes and Editorial Reviews

"These six overtures were recorded in a single day, November 22, 1958, at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. Intended originally by RCA Victor to be the stereophonic successor to Toscanini's recordings of five of the six, Reiner in this recording held to tempos in many cases a few seconds faster than Toscanini's; yet, notwithstanding, he managed to inject an element of geniality into the music absent in Toscanini's vivid thrust and forward drive. No one, however, could make The Barber of Seville Overture scintillate the way Toscanini did, be it with the New York Philharmonic or the NBC Symphony , but Reiner does bring a liquidity to the score that is quite refreshing. Reiner's The Thieving Magpie Overture and II Signor Bruschino Overture areRead more even more successful, with sharp detail, bravura, and panache, totally exhilarating in their sparkling frothiness. Conversely, there is a decided lushness in the opening of The Silken Ladder Overture and in Reiner's approach to the Cinderella Overture that may not appeal to those who want the refined polish Karajan brought to the former or the tauter rhythms and dry finesse Abbado brought to the latter; but Reiner could, for all his discipline and precision, be a musical sybarite at times and he obviously relished this music. As if to make up for it, his opening to the William Tell Overture is more reserved, lacking the immediate plunge into darkness and mystery that characterized Toscanini's way with this music or the dramatic intensity of Leonard Bernstein in what is my preferred recording of it (but, actually, Reiner is only toying with the listener, holding back so he can finish in a flourish of brass that generates terrific excitement. The original recordings were magnificent sonically and that warmth, lushness, clarity, and vigor have been quite successfully transferred to the new format."

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: ( 2 Customer Reviews )

Looney Tunes For AdultsAugust 29, 2016By owen ryan (lakewood, CA)See All My Reviews"Many of us were first exposed to Rossini as children thru those wonderful looney Tunes' Cartoons, or, maybe, the Lone Ranger's theme music. Rossini's Overtures are irresistably colorful, light, gay, humorous and therefore youthful music. Reiner and the great Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in their typical lush, rich and dynamic sound, provide (edited) interpretations as exciting, lyrical and charming as you're likely to find on record. These 1958 recordings have been nicely remastered (although there is some shattering on the peaks of Tell). The playing time on this disc comes in at about 54 minutes. Mozart's Don Giovanni Overture is tacked on as the last track but it musically fits in with the proceeding Rossini. Recommended light listening."Report Abuse

Rollicking overturesDecember 19, 2012By J. Lisanti (Glen Ridge, NJ)See All My Reviews"I heard the William Tell Overture from this CD on WQXR and came right to ArkivMusic to order it. Fritz Reiner &amp; the Chicago Symphony must have been drenched in sweat at the end of each of these overtures: that's how fast and almost over-the-top they are played. Not so fast that it's a mess - each note is crystal clear - but with ebullience. These are not mannered or well-behaved - they are joyful, and let you see the humor that Rossini put in them. If you don't laugh at the finales, well, maybe you haven't watched enough Bugs Bunny. Great liner notes, too."Report Abuse